Chapter 140

Chapter 140
## Chapter 140: Crossing the Threshold of the Rift

The Swordmaster stood alongside the Orc Master, Raktusha.

Accompanying them were figures of equal pressure—presumably the most trusted lieutenants of the Black King.

They were currently reprimanding Raktusha for his lackluster performance at the “Mountain of Practitioners.”

Even a warrior of Raktusha’s stature could do little more than knit his brows in frustration at their critique.

“Mortal. You were the one who spoke of this ‘tower’ and the ‘latent characteristics’ within. You even mentioned ‘that’ specific object. The Black King’s favor depends entirely on whether these things prove their worth,” the dark elf stated, addressing the master.

His tone was condescending, his eyes tracking the man as if he were an insignificant insect he might crush at a whim.

…Vile, monstrous wretches.

“Have no fear. My understanding of the ‘tower’s true essence’ will outpace everyone else’s,” the master replied.

It wasn’t merely about natural gifts or obscured traits. This spire harbored mysteries far more profound and vital. If his suspicions were accurate, this structure was…

“Let us move inside,” Raktusha declared, taking the first step into the Rift Tower.

Shaking off his lingering doubts, the master followed close behind.

Immediately, notifications flared to life.

《Requirements for ‘Rift Tower’ entry have been met.》

《1st Floor: Sector of Fractured Levels》

《Participants will be segregated into zones according to their levels.》

《Exert your maximum effort within your assigned sectors!》

《Access to the 2nd Floor will be granted once the ‘Final Raid Boss Zone’ is unlocked via cumulative performance scores.》

《Exit is prohibited until the floor has been successfully conquered.》

—

“Aha!”

The Demon King’s expression darkened.

He could sense that Baal, a presence he once deemed permanent, had been erased. More importantly, the potent “malediction” he had woven was now gone.

‘That curse held the weight of half the Demon Realm. No simple blessing could have possibly cleansed it.’

It had been a snare intended for Wilhelm.

However, Wilhelm hadn’t been the one to fall into it; a knight had stepped in to save him. That knight was supposed to suffer under that blight for all eternity.

And yet.

‘The blight was consumed.’

Something had actually devoured an unbreakable curse—a force containing the essence of half his realm that should have been indelible. There was only one power capable of such a feat.

‘A Shard of Desolation.’

The very thing he had kept hidden even from Baal. Only that specific darkness could swallow the Demon King’s curse.

Did this imply that Baal’s slayer was the one who nullified the spell?

The situation was becoming a genuine annoyance. It signaled the arrival of an unpredictable factor.

‘In the long run, however, it changes nothing.’

A thin smirk touched the Demon King’s lips.

Under different circumstances, this might have troubled him. Now, it merely sparked his curiosity. The presence of a formidable antagonist was simply a way to push the capabilities of this “vessel” to their peak.

—You… do you truly lack fear of the ‘Celestial’?

The dragon lay there, once bathed in the light of dawn. The Heavenly Dragon, a creature revered as a holy guardian, was now broken, its radiance extinguished. It was one of the “Seven Dragon Deities,” known as the pinnacle of the ancient drakes.

—When ‘Celestial’ hears of this sacrilege, your life is forfeit! To lay hands on me, a ‘warden’ of this world…! And to do so while inhabiting the corpse of a human!

“Great Demon King, is this captive fool not becoming a nuisance?”

It was Isera, the sovereign of the second great abyss. A hybrid of man and dragon, distinguished by lunar horns and a crimson physique, he poked at the mangled, helpless form of the Dragon Deity.

The Dragon Deity shivered with indignity.

—Isera! You, a descendant of ‘Celestial’ and the ‘wardens’—how can you show me such disrespect? I held you in such high esteem!

“Your voice is grating.”

Isera lifted his palm, summoning a swirling mass of infernal heat.

*Squelch!*

His hand, wreathed in the fires of the abyss, drove straight into the Dragon Deity’s chest.

*Thump. Thump.*

He ripped out the Dragon Deity’s pulse-quickening heart. Dropping to one knee, he presented the organ to the Demon King.

“Your ‘sustenance’ is prepared, My Lord.”

“I have never questioned your devotion, Isera.”

“…When the grand campaign begins, I will bring you the hearts of every remaining warden.”

“Very well.”

Satisfied, the Demon King took the heart.

*Crunch.*

*Snap.*

He began to feed on the Dragon Deity’s heart with feral intensity.

In that moment, a sudden gust of power erupted.

*Whoosh!*

A surge of raw vitality flooded the Demon King’s pallid frame, saturating it with “existence.”

‘Perfect.’

The Demon King beamed. His lifeless vessel was returning to the world of the living. The vast array of talents and powers within this body, fused with his own sovereign authority, were evolving. He was reaching a level of strength that dwarfed his previous self.

—

Waking from her deep unconsciousness, Serengeti tilted her head in confusion.

“Do I… possess a twin? Or perhaps an elder sister?”

A woman who shared her exact features stood before her. From the shape of her nose to the curve of her lips, the resemblance was uncanny. It was like staring into a looking glass.

Hudson broke into a cold sweat. “Well… you see…”

“No, that’s not it. Looking closer, there are flaws. You’re actually a bit plainer than me. Did you bring some low-tier shapeshifter here to mock me? How disappointing.”

Serengeti, finally awake, was as loquacious as ever.

A shapeshifter, she thought. He would have to explain it himself.

“…It’s actually me, Hudson.”

“Ha! What a witty doppelganger. Are you suggesting Hudson has transformed into a woman?”

“The explanation is complicated…”

“Very well, fake-Hudson. Tell me, where did I first encounter the real one?”

Hudson didn’t miss a beat.

“Inside the fortress during your shift. You were hunting a fraud… you mistook me for his partner and hauled me away. I truly feared for my life. You even used interrogation tactics to find the nonexistent accomplice.”

“…Where did Hudson first admit his feelings to me?”

A soft smile played on Hudson’s lips.

“On that small rise near the ramparts. The moonbell flowers were in full bloom. It was twilight. When I told you how I felt, you were so startled you pushed me, and I nearly tumbled to my death. If the drop had been steeper, I wouldn’t be here. It still makes my head spin.”

“What was the very first token I gave him?”

Hudson touched his collarbone.

“A necklace of bone. You crafted it yourself from the remains of your first successful hunt. It smelled of iron and marrow for the longest time. I wore it everywhere, but it started terrible rumors—people thought I’d murdered a child to make it. My business plummeted. We went through a lot.”

“……….Hudson?”

“Yes, it’s really me, Serengeti.”

“Oh, Hudson!”

*Fwoosh!*

Serengeti lunged forward and pulled Hudson into a crushing embrace.

But were those stories actually real?

‘What a chaotic courtship.’

Everyone present, myself included, was momentarily stunned. It was a narrative so bizarre it could only be attributed to the sheer force of their bond.

After a long moment, Serengeti pulled back, puzzled.

“But why are you a woman now? Are you no longer a man, Hudson?”

“…I experimented too heavily with ‘physique-altering elixirs.’ It will be some time before the effects fade.”

“It’s alright. Don’t make excuses. My love for you persists even in this form.”

“I’d love you even if you were male… but I’m telling the truth. It isn’t an excuse. Truly.”

“I understand. It’s fine.”

*Pat. Pat.*

Serengeti offered comforting pats to Hudson’s back.

…She clearly didn’t believe a word of it.

Hudson sighed, looking toward me with a silent plea for intervention.

Right. This required a definitive correction.

I spoke the cold truth.

“Serengeti.”

“Ah… Yes, My Lord.”

Realizing I was there, Serengeti composed herself, cleared her throat, and released Hudson.

“Is your physical condition stable?”

“Yes. The weight of the curse has vanished. My gratitude is yours.”

“Good.”

The lingering traces of the malediction had been consumed by the ‘Darkness.’ Serengeti was completely free of its influence. A powerful ally and my most loyal knight was finally restored.

As we prepared to move forward, I delivered the final verdict.

“Serengeti.”

“Yes.”

“Hudson has transitioned into a female entirely.”

“……”

“Her gender and her name have both changed. From this point on, address her as ‘Sage.'”

“Oh……”

Serengeti looked stunned. “Sage…… A lovely name…… No longer Hudson, no longer a man…… Sage.”

Perhaps renaming him on the spot was a bit harsh?

Just then.

“Serengeti! That isn’t true! I am definitely not a woman!”

“…Are you implying the Successor is a liar?”

“Wait…… No, that’s not……”

“I am crestfallen. I never imagined you would resort to falsehoods to cover a blunder. I think we need to seriously evaluate our future together.”

“……”

Hudson’s face went completely bloodless.

—

Once the chaos of the misunderstanding settled, Hudson and Serengeti shared a private moment. As we made our final preparations to leave the fortress, a visitor arrived.

“Successor. Might I have a word?”

“Andrew.”

It was the priest, Andrew, the one responsible for the honor-related tasks. I had intended to seek him out anyway to burn off some of my ‘infamy’ points. Andrew dealt in spiritual pardons, which he could replicate without limit.

“What do you need?”

“If your path leads to the ‘Rift Tower’… I ask that you allow me to accompany you.”

“The Rift Tower? For what purpose?”

“I received a vision—perhaps a divine message. It indicated that a solution for Andasar’s plight lies within. And that my presence there is mandatory. I am certain of it.”

Andasar.

Andrew’s child, who had been twisted into an unspeakable horror by a corrupted grimoire and later became a dullahan under Kramdel’s influence. She was back with Andrew now, but he was undoubtedly terrified of her being discovered. If the Church of the Goddess found out, he would be stripped of his priesthood instantly.

‘Hmm. I don’t require two support units.’

The party limit was five. I had already planned to recruit the Saintess, Sea. Adding Andrew would result in two healers, which was inefficient.

Yet, a thought lingered.

The concepts of “vision” and “divine message.”

‘Andrew is a high-ranking cleric. If he’s receiving omens, there’s likely substance to them.’

He had successfully channeled the goddess’s power before. In terms of spiritual sensitivity, he might actually outclass Sea.

Then, a commotion broke out.

“What is that!”

“A dryad has come through the gateway!”

Shouting erupted from the courtyard. I looked out to see a very familiar face.

“Brother! Are you unharmed!”

It was the High Dryad. He had reached the castle.

“I know you’re in there! The ‘New Green’ informed me—come out! I’m not moving until I see for myself that you’re safe!”

He was as loud and energetic as ever.

—

Surprisingly, the roster was now complete.

Andrew and the High Dryad had taken two of the positions. I intended to fill the remaining slots with Serengeti and Isabella.

“…I will not be participating.”

Isabella spoke in a quiet, hesitant voice.

“I am not worthy to join you. I… I still haven’t reconciled whether I should have even returned.”

“Why the doubt?”

“I nearly caused your destruction, Successor. I put you through a horrific ordeal…”

“But I survived.”

She was referring to the moment she took the source of rot into herself to save me. But because of that act, I had unlocked my fifteenth hidden trait. If anything, her sacrifice had been a benefit.

“…I cannot forgive myself for putting your life at risk.”

“Even if I have already moved past it?”

“I am truly sorry.”

She required a reprieve. She needed to process her emotions and the flood of ancient memories that had returned to her. Such transcendent knowledge would be a heavy burden for anyone to carry. If she joined now, her distracted state would be a liability. There was no point in forcing the issue.

“Take the time you need. But don’t expect me to wait indefinitely.”

“Ah……”

“Get your thoughts in order by the time we exit the tower. Our agreement is still in effect, after all.”

“Th-thank you… truly.”

Isabella gave a deep, respectful bow. Even without entering the tower, she would be busy. The desert city required oversight, and someone needed to be there when Isaac returned. She would work alongside Hudson to manage the labyrinth city.

‘In that case, who takes the final spot?’